Courts to Prioritize Clearing Children Cases during Children Service Month- CJ

Chief Justice Martha Koome has said this year’s Children Service Month will prioritize clearing of backlog of children cases that have been in courts beyond the statutory six months period.

This she said today during the launch of this year’s Children Service Month at the Supreme Court. This month is dedicated to sensitize the public on children’s rights and fast-tracking their cases across all court stations.

Last year, she said, this initiative saw 1,825 child related cases resolved across the country.

‘Due to the collaborative efforts of the justice agencies, last years’ Service Month saw 1,825 cases resolved. This shows the great potential of this initiative.’

In line with this year’s theme A New Dawn for the Kenyan Child: The Children Act 2022, she urged all agencies in the justice sector and stakeholders to champion the full implementation of the newly enacted Children Act 2022.

Further she said, she has gazetted a Standing Committee on the Administration of Justice for Children in Kenya to spearhead reforms in the justice sector to ensure a children friendly justice system.

Toward this end, she directed courts to put the best interest of a child brought before it by ensuring they are removed from undesirable surroundings while securing their proper maintenance, education, and training in accordance with section 225 of the Children Act.

To speed up the cases, she called upon judges and judicial officers to utilize virtual courts to enhance expeditious access to justice for children cases

She warned parents against abusing court processes as a place of instilling discipline or reforming children. She implored them to utilize other avenues like counselling and religious instructions to help with instilling discipline and values for the children.

‘To Parents, I wish to reiterate that the court process must not be abused as a place of discipline or reform for our children. I implore you to utilize other avenues like counselling and religious instructions to help with instilling discipline and values for the children.